IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

Terry Schmidt has brought his business, Austin Windshield Plus, back home to where his family has worked for decades.

Photos by Eric Johnson/ photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Heading out of Austin on 10th Drive SE, and past the four-way stop, you’ll find a little auto glass shop with more history than maybe one would expect.

From the front it’s a rather unassuming building, painted white and accented with hues of blue and yellow. The building’s simplicity is reflected inside by the business’ two-vehicle capacity.

But glance around and you’ll see markers of the history associated with the building, which dates back to the middle of last century, with a vein of family running through it all.

Pictures and newspaper clippings are visible most everywhere you turn. Neon signs hangs from the halls, a hint to another business that once called the building home. The building feels old, but rich at the same time.

This is Austin Windshield Plus, owned by Terry Schmidt, and he is the latest in the line of Schmidts to use the building for business.

Before we go deeper into the past, though, it’s important to understand Schmidt’s story first. Schmidt bought Viking Auto Glass and Bumper in 2013 from a cousin, Fred Schmidt. Keen to avoid any confusion, he re-branded in 2015 to Austin Windshield Plus.

“Viking Glass … was going out of business in 2015-16,” Schmidt said. “I was getting some calls; people were thinking I was going out of busi-

ness too. That was one of those signs I needed to reinvent myself a little bit.”

Schmidt remained in the original Viking location for seven full years. At that time, Viking was located along Fourth Street SE, not far north from Woodson Kindergarten School. However, Schmidt had the opportunity to move to his current location and took up the opportunity to buy the building from his oldest brother Bill Schmidt, who was doing vinyl signs at the site.

The youngest brother, Tony Jr., was also working out of the building, carrying on a tradition of neon signs started by Schmidt’s dad, Tony Schmidt, Sr.

Schmidt officially opened Austin Windshield Plus at the new site on June 1, 2021.

And this is where we get the opportunity to look at the rich history of the building itself, which began on the foundation of a family-owned business — Theissen Signs.

“I believe this building was built probably in the 40s or early 50s,” Schmidt said. “My dad joined Don and Rudy Theissen … they were my uncles and dad’s two brother-in-laws.”

Schmidt said his dad joined the business after he returned home from World War II. At the time, the business was building signs that could be seen not only around Austin, but throughout the area.

The signs hovered over all sorts of businesses, but not long after, Schmidt’s dad felt the need to bring a new element to the business.

Terry Schmidt

A picture of Terry Schmidt’s dad Tony Schmidt Sr. lays on the work table in Austin Windshield Plus. Inset: Terry Schmidt begins the work of cutting lose a damaged windshield.

Terry Schmidt disconnects a sensor housing from a truck in his garage before replacing the windshield in January.

“He went to learn neon tube bending — it was either South or North Dakota,” Schmidt said. “He joined the two brothers-in-law to bring some electrical sign opportunities here — electrical and neon signs.”

Eventually, after Schmidt’s father and uncles passed away, Bill and Tony took over the business with the vinyl side of things, as well as continuing the tradition of neon tube bending.

“They operated two separate businesses out of here for another 15-20 years or so after dad passed,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt smiles when he thinks back to spending time in the building, watching his father and uncles create signs that would be visible to all who came to Austin.

“That is one of the greatest parts of the whole story,” Schmidt said. “I like that some of my other brothers worked here when they were teenagers.”

Around 1990 or 1991, Schmidt and his then wife moved back to Austin. Schmidt once again spent a couple years working in Theissen signs with the intent of buying into the family business. But things didn’t work out and a manufacturing opportunity back in the Twin Cities drew him back north.

But, as all good stories go, Schmidt has returned.

“Just to be a part of this building again is fantastic,” he said.

There’s a fondness of the location, but there is also a fondness in owning a business in Austin, where Schmidt has strived to become a part of the community by joining such groups as the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and Spruce Up Austin.

But it was the memory of the signs that still pull Schmidt back, especially the neon sign making.

“Neon was always in the corner,” Schmidt said. “Dad taught me to make neon when I was here in the early 90s and then I opened my own neon business, called Today’s Neon, up in Burnsville.”

Today’s Neon stayed up and running for 15 years, but as technology shifted to LED lighting, neon began taking a hit.

“I realized that and it wasn’t as busy as it used to be, so I sold all of our equipment.”

The old building he’s in today hasn’t changed much. Anybody who has spent time in Theissen Signs is likely to find the building familiar and Schmidt is looking to keep it that way.

At best, Schmidt is toying with the idea of acquiring new technology such as an alignment system that would allow him to calibrate lane departure warning system cameras, which would cut down on the time spent taking vehicles elsewhere after a windshield is installed.

Otherwise, “… it’s as big as I need,” he said.

Schmidt and the businesses before him have been able to remain a part of Austin because of community support and Schmidt recognizes that.

Shopping local has played a major part in Schmidt being able to be a successful part of the Austin business community.

“Thank you for shopping locally,” Schmidt said. “Thank you to the local community for shopping locally and helping me grow this business. Every year has experienced growth. I have so many repeat customers and the local insurance companies support us.”

“That’s really important,” he added. “As you know, people support each other in this town.”

Austin Windshield plus is located at 611 10th Drive SE in Austin. P